Blues jolt Stripes' title ambitions

Birkirkara 1
Cilia 29
Marsaxlokk 2
Pereira 4; Alcorse 54 pen

Marsaxlokk pulled off a surprise yesterday when they beat title hopefuls Birkirkara by the odd goal in three.

On a high after their 3-1 win over champions Valletta kept them in the hunt for the title, the Stripes were expected to make light work of a Marsaxlokk side who had suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening Championship Pool matches.

But, the formbook was thrown out of the window by the lively southerners. Marsaxlokk opted for a counter-attacking game as they sought to hurt the Stripes through the pace of their forwards Julio Alcorse and Marcelo Pereira who scored a goal each.

For Birkirkara, this defeat has put a nasty dent on their title challenge as the Stripes missed the chance to jump above Valletta in second place. Leaders Hibernians will increase their advantage over the chasing duo with victory over Sliema Wanderers this evening.

Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi was forced to make a late change after Gareth Sciberras suffered an injury during the warm-up. He was replaced by Mark Barbara. Carlo Mamo is still sidelined by injury while Christian Cassar was serving a one-match ban.

John Buttigieg, the Birkirkara coach, made three changes to the team that beat Valletta as Kirill Dimitrov-Mihaylov, Trevor Cilia and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza were included in the starting XI at the expense of Michael Galea, Martin Anastasi and Krasen Valkov.

Marsaxlokk were off to a flying start, taking the lead after just four minutes. Chris Camilleri made headway on the left before sending a cross towards the near post where Pereira was at hand to poke the ball past the hesitant Omar Borg.

Birkirkara's response saw Cilia supply a teasing cross towards Dimitrov-Mihaylov whose downward header flashed just wide.

On 13 minutes, the Birkirkara fans protested for a penalty when Cilia's cross looked to have hit the arm of Marsaxlokk defender William Camenzuli but referee Paul Caruana was unimpressed. Shaun Bajada was booked for dissent.

Pouncing on sloppy defending by Birkirkara, Pereira threatened to further complicate matters for the Stripes as he raced into the area but his shot was too weak to trouble Borg.

Pereira's pace was a constant worry for Birkirkara and after 20 minutes, the Brazilian outpaced Joseph Zerafa but was blocked by Ivaylo Sokolov.

Birkirkara were gifted an equaliser on 29 minutes when Zerafa's cross-shot was fumbled by Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Debono and Cilia made instant profit by pushing the ball home.

The match remained balanced. Six minutes from the end of the first half, the Stripes threatened again when Bajada's curling free-kick soared past the upright with Debono beaten.

Thomas Paris came to Birkirkara's rescue on 43 minutes when heading away Barbara's goalbound effort.

Nine minutes into the second half, Marsaxlokk moved 2-1 up. Alcorse squeezed past two Birkirkara defenders but was upended by Sokolov as he was about to shoot. The referee had no option but to point to the spot. The Argentine stepped up for the penalty kick and sent Borg the wrong way.

Raising their efforts to get back on level terms, Birkirkara had a firm Mihaylov drive missing the target.

Alcorse should have killed off Birkirkara on 59 minutes when he suddenly found himself in space in the Birkirkara box but shot straight into the onrushing Borg.

The Stripes were clearly struggling and Kevin Sammut again sent Alcorse on a run on the right channel but the Argentine fluffed his shot.

Buttigieg tried to rectify his team's deficiencies by sending on Anastasi and Valkov for Bajada and Dimitrov- Mihaylov respectively.

Birkirkara continued to toil with their attacking play lacking any kind of inspiration.

On the other hand, Marsaxlokk were defending very well with Camenzuli and Brian Said very much in evidence.

Marsaxlokk had the ball in the Birkirkara net for the third time when Alcorse poked the ball home from close in but the 'goal' was annulled because the Argentine was in an offside position.

Birkirkara threatened four minutes from time when Valkov fired a powerful volley but Debono saved.

The Stripes kept pushing more men forward but it was to no avail as Marsaxlokk held out for a deserved win.

Birkirkara
O. Borg-5, T. Paris-5.5 ('79 A. Tabone), R. Hartvig-6, J. Zerafa-5, I. Sokolov-5, G. Mallia-6, T. Cilia-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5, P. Fenech-5.5, K.D. Mihaylov-5.5 ('65 K. Valkov-5), S. Bajada-5.5 ('64 M. Anastasi-5).

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6, M. Licari-6, M. Barbara-6 ('88 T. Templeman), R. Conceicao-6, B. Said-6.5, K. Sammut-7, P. Pullicino-7, J. Alcorse-7, C. Camilleri-6, W. Camenzuli-7 ('82 C. Brincat), M. Pereira-8.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Bajada; Sokolov; Hartvig; Conceicao; Licari.

BoV player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Marsaxlokk).